The Morning Routine That Keeps my Garden Thriving (10 Mins a Day)

It’s easy to get daunted when the gardening job list is as long as your arm – so here's my checklist of daily tasks that typically take me just ten minutes to complete...

1. Winkle Out The Weeds

Even meticulously tended gardens get weeds – if they’re not popping up from the seed bank that’s already in the soil, they’re blowing in on the wind. But keeping on top of weeds is as simple as scanning beds once a day to reach in and winkle out any you see.

Pull up the most obvious weeds, or if an area’s particularly weedy, tackle it one small section at a time. Honestly, I spend no more than one to two minutes weeding each day and that’s more than enough to stay on top of any weeds that have the cheek to pop up in my beds!

2. Check for Pests and Diseases

While I’m weeding, I’m also playing doctor, inspecting my plants for any signs of pests or diseases and thinking how I can cure the problem. It’s simply a matter of glancing over plants, looking for telltale signs such as discolored or holey leaves or, of course, the culprits themselves.

Remove pests by hand if you can. Aphids are a common find but easily squished between finger and thumb or blasted off with a jet of water from the hose. Slugs also need regular picking and despatching – check out this video for more on easy organic slug control.

3. Deadhead and Prune

Remove any yellowing leaves from plants, and snip off the runners from strawberries to focus energy on fruit production. This is also the moment to do a spot of deadheading – removing old flowers from the likes of calendula to encourage their replacements and extend the flowering period.

4. Support or Tie In Plants

As the season progresses growth picks up. An important task right now is checking tall or climbing plants like tomatoes and beans and making sure they’re properly supported.

Tie in tomatoes to their supports as needed – I use natural jute twine for this as at the end of the season it can go onto the compost heap along with the spent plants. Or if you’re growing tomatoes or cucumbers up strings in a greenhouse, twirl the leading shoot around the string to make sure it’s held upright. Do this to a couple of plants a day and it’s easy to keep them happy without feeling like you’re rushing around after them.

5. Water Plants

Mornings are the ideal time for watering, which is when I try to complete my ten-minute job list – often with a freshly brewed coffee close by. So with weeds plucked, pests seen to, plants supported and everything preened and proper, it’s time to water.

Check soil moisture first by getting a finger down about an inch into the soil. If it’s dry then now’s the time to water, but if it isn’t – well, you’ve saved yourself a job. Watering properly takes time as it’s important to apply enough to penetrate deep down into the soil. This job can’t be rushed, so if you do need to move on with your day, prioritize the thirstiest crops or those most at risk of drying out, and come back to water the rest of the garden later.

6. Harvest Ripe Produce

Harvesting ripe and ready produce is the final job on my daily list. It means I pick the freshest possible produce, and avoids plants wilting in the heat.

As well as ingredients for a lunchtime salad and perhaps a few handfuls of spinach or chard for dinner, I’m typically on the lookout for beans, tomatoes or courgettes lurking in the foliage. Harvesting regularly, and at the right size or point or ripeness, ensures the best possible taste and helps to keep plants productive for longer.

7. A Minute to Spare?

In peak season it’s quite an achievement to complete these tasks in under ten minutes – there’s always another job to distract the gardener! But if I do have a minute to spare I like to have a think about tomorrow’s tasks. All the of the above for sure, but perhaps there’s mulch to top up or some follow-on crops to sow. I’ll either make a mental note or more often – because I’m terribly forgetful! – add a reminder on my phone to keep me on track.